Connector



June 17, 1947. I 5, PT BECKER 2,422,332

. CONNECTOR Filed March 6, 1944 //VVE/V7'OR Stephen P flea/car En 1W Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE CONNECTOR Stephen P. Becker, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Application March 6, 1944, Serial No. 525,196

. 7 Claims. 1

My invention is an improvement in vise type connectors for attaching one wire to another.

The object of my invention is to provide a multi-purpose clamp which can be used to fasten an end of one wire, in T relation at the side of a continuous wire, to fasten two wires together in parallel relation, or to fasten two wires together end to end.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of the body of one of my improved clamps.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of two clamping members which, combined in movable relation to the body, constitute a connector.

Figure 3 shows a connector, holding an end of one wire, in T relation at the side of a continuous through wire.

Figure 4 shows a connector holding two wires together in parallel relation.

Figure 5 shows a connector holding two wires together end to end.

Figure 6 shows an alternative form of the body.

Figure 7 shows the opposite side of the connector shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings: the body of one of my connectors consists of a base a, which, as shown on the drawings, has a length about twice its width and has, adjacent one long side, a groove I extending its full length, or two shorter grooves, i in line with each other and extending, one from each end, toward the center with an open space between them, similar grooves, 2 and 3, extending across the ends, and two holes 41 and I 4 therethrough approximately tangent to the inner sides of the grooves. Extending upward from the base between the holes is a T-shaped projection 5 forming a continuation, 4a and Ma, of about 90, or a quarter of the circle of each hole at the side of the hole farthest from the intersections of the grooves, the base 6 of the T being at the inner side of the central part of the long groove and each end 1 and l! of the top being at the inner side of a portion of a short groove 2 or 3 distant from the long groove l As shown in Figure 2, each clamping member consists of a round stem 8 of a size to fit freely in one of the holes 4 or M in the base, a head'9 extending outward therefrom and a tongue Ill extending from head parallel with said stem, at a distance therefrom slightly greater than that from a hole in the base to the outer side or end thereof, said head and tongue being thereby adapted, when a stem is in a hole in the base, to extend outward above an adjacent groove and downward outside of and adjacent to either the side or the end of the base to hold a wire tightly in either the groove across the adjacent end or the groove on the long side. A screw H extends through a washer l2 and a tapped hole I3 in the stem 8 of each clamping member.

It may readily be seen that, when its screw is backed out of either clamping member, the member may be rotated from an end location, as shown in Figure 4, to a side location, as shown in Figure 5, or vise Versa.

In use the screws are backed out till each clamping member can be turned to the desired location, and a wire is inserted under it. Each screw is then turned till it pulls its clamping member toward the base and holds the wire tightly. The T-shaped projection above the base supports the side of the stem distant from the wire and prevents its bein bent by the eccentric load due to clamping.

Where the words a long groove are used in the claims, they are intended to include either a single groove extendin the full length of a long side, or the equivalent two short grooves in line with each other as shown in Fig. 6.

That which I claim as new and wish to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wire connector, the combination of a body comprising a base with a long groove adjacent to and parallel with one side, a short groove adjacent to and parallel with each end, two round holes therethrough, one adjacent each intersection of a short with the long groove and being tangent to the inner sides of the grooves and a T-shaped projection from the top of the base, having its stem between the two holes with its foot closely adjacent the inner side of the lon groove and the two ends of its top closely adjacent the inner sides of the portions of the two short grooves distant from the long groove, the junction of each end of the top with the stem being a quarter circle forming a continuation of one-quarter of the adjacent one of the two round holes with two clamping members, each clamping member consisting of a round stem slightly smaller than the holes in the base, and having a screw threaded hole therethrough, a head extending outward from one side of the stem and a tongue extending from the head parallel with the stem and slightly farther therefrom than the distance from a hole in the base across a groove to an end or the side of the base, each of said members being thereby adapted to have its stem enter one of the round holes in the base and its head extend across either one of the grooves ad- 3 jacent the hole, and two screws of a size to pass through the holes in the base and cooperate with threaded holes in the clamping members to move said members toward the base.

2. In a body for a wire connector a base having one long groove and two short grooves intersecting the long groove, one adjacent each of its ends, two holes therethrough adjacent the inner sides of the intersections of the grooves and a T- shaped projection from the side of the base containing the grooves, the base of the T being closely adjacent the inner side of the long groove,

the ends of the top of the T being closely adjacent the inner sides of the short grooves and the junction of each end of the top with the stem being a continuation of a portion of the quarter of the hole through the base most distant from the intersection of the grooves.

3. In a wire connector, the combination with a body having a long groove, two short grooves intersecting the long groove,one near each end thereof, andtwo 'holes oneadjaoent the inner sides of each of said intersections, of two clamping members each being movable toward the body by a screw extending through one of the holes and being turnable through 90 and thereby adapted for cooperationwith either of the two grooves. nearestit in the body to clamp a wire thereagainst.

i. In a wire connector, the combination with a body having a long groove, two short grooves intersecting-said long groove, one near each end thereof and two round holes, of two clamping jaws, each having a round stem slightly smaller than the holes and thereby adapted to enter a hole and a head extending at one side of the stem, each jaw being turnable through 90 and thereby adapted for movement to either of two positions whereby three relative arrangements, one with the two jaws in line, one with the two jaws in parallel, and the third with the two jaws at right angles,-are possible each of said clamping jaws having a'screw by which it may be drawn toward the body.

5. In a wire connector in combination a body, twoclamping members, two screws, and two washers, the body consisting of a base having a length greater than its width, a long groove adjacent one side, a short groove across each end and two round holes, one adjacent each intersection of a short with the long groove, and a T-shaped projection having the stem of the T extendin between the two holes with its base adjacent the central portion of the long groove and the top of the T extending from the inner side of one to the inner side of the other short groove, each end of the top being between one of the two holes and the side of the base distant from the long groove, each junction of thestem with the top of the T forming an extension of the quarter of the adjacent round hole most dis tant from the intersection of the adjacent grooves, each clamping member consisting of an internally screw threaded round stem slightly smaller than the holes in the base, a head extending from one side of the stem slightly farther from the stem than from the side of a hole to the adjacent side of the base, and a tongue extending from the end of the head approximately parallel with the adjacent side of the stem, each screw having a thread to fit the internal thread of the clamping member.

6. In a wire connector the combination of an elongated body having a long groove parallel with one long side, a short groove parallel with and adjacent to each of the ends, and two round holes, each one being tangent to both the inner side of one short groove and to the inner side of the lon groove'and two clamping members each having a screw threaded hollow stem insertable in one of the round holes and ahead extending from one side of the stem, each of said members being turnable through from one to the other of two positions, one position bein above one short groove and the other'above the adjacent portion of the long groove, and two screws one insertable in each stem to draw the stem into its hole, and the head toward the adjacent groove.

'7. In a wire connector, in combination, a body, with a length greater than its width, having a long groove adjacent one side and two short grooves intersecting said long groove, one adjacent each" of its ends, two clamping members each turnable through 90 and thereby adapted for cooperation with either the adjacent portion of the long groove or one of the. short grooves, each member having a screw to draw it toward the body and thereby hold a wire in the adjacent groove.

. STEPHEN 'P. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Pounder 1.. Sept. 5, 1933 

